Boy, 7, mauled by dogs returns to school

ANSONIA  The 7-year-old boy mauled by three dogs last month has returned to school and is recovering from the attack, his mother said Thursday.

Andy Bromage

Published 12:00 am, Friday, October 10, 2003

Clinton Brodie Jr. was attacked Sept. 27 outside his aunts house on May Street by three dogs owned by neighbors who share a yard with the boys relatives, Animal Control Officer Jean Roslonowski said.

Clinton had just entered the yard through the gate when he was attacked without warning, she said.

One dog, a 10-month-old, 65-pound pit bull mix, bit the boy in the arms, head and face, inflicting a deep wound. Clinton spent a week in Yale-New Haven hospital undergoing plastic surgery for a cut to his face that was 4½ inches long, 4 inches wide and 2½ inches deep, said his mother, Felicia Robertson of Ansonia. He was released from the hospital Saturday.

"(His) whole cheek was missing," she said. "Doctors pulled the skin back in plastic surgery. Hes such a strong kid, he hardly cried at all."

Roslonowski has ordered the 10-month-old dog euthanized because of the severity of the attack and the likelihood it would attack a human again, she said.

The dogs owners, Alfred and Denise Hebert of May Street, were issued infractions for three counts each of allowing a dog to create a nuisance, failure to license and failure to vaccinate. Earlier this summer, they were cited for allowing a dog to roam, Roslonowski confirmed Thursday. The couple could not be reached for comment.

Clinton visited his aunt and cousins, who live upstairs in the May Street house, every day after school, his mother said. She said the dogs were acquainted with her son.

Robertson said doctors told her that Clinton, who weighs about 120 pounds, might have died in the attack if he had been lighter.

"It could have been prevented and I want to know why it happened," Robertson said.

Roslonowski, however, said the attack was totally random and could not have been prevented.

"We have no idea what went on there because only the dogs and the boy saw it," she said. "The dogs werent roaming when they bit him."

The 10-month-old dog has been quarantined pending the outcome of the disposal order. It did not have its rabies shots.

The quarantine period for the two other dogs involved in the attack  a 4-year-old pit bull mix and a Chihuahua  expires today, Roslonowski said. The owner will be required to make appointments for rabies shots immediately, she said.

But Robertson said the dogs should have been given their shots long ago.